A British commander covering army units in Belfast including 1 Para on Bloody Sunday today told the Saville Inquiry that he had "every confidence" in the paratroopers and they were not "excessively forceful" in carrying out their duties.
Gen Sir Frank Kitson, commander of 39 Brigade said the British paratroopers involved in the Bloody Sunday shootings were members of an "experienced and professional battalion".
He told the Saville inquiry, which reopened in London today, he had no recollection of the events leading up to January 30th 1972 - when 13 unarmed civilians were killed by paratroopers during a civil rights march in Derry. He said he only had a "very general" understanding of the security situation in the city.
He was on leave when his men were called to Derry as reinforcements for the security forces and said he was only told about the events when he returned from leave.
Sir Frank denied that his expertise in counter-insurgency meant he would have been involved in the planning of the British army's role in the Bloody Sunday march.
He said 1 Para had experience of dealing with riots in Belfast and "were good at controlling difficult situations" but said any reputation they might have acquired for "toughness and brutality" was "mistaken".
Their "resolute action" often prevented escalations of violence between Catholics and Protestants, he claimed, adding: "I believe that 1 Para's effectiveness in this field contributed greatly to the saving of life."
Sir Frank was speaking as the Saville inquiry reopened in London to hear evidence from some 300 military witnesses who had successfully argued in court that their security would be at risk if they returned to Derry.
PA